First Day at a New Job? Here’s How to Prepare – Freesumes

It’s official: the job search is over and you’re now with the new company. Woot-woot! But the joy can be spoiled by first-day scares. What should I pack? What if I make a stupid comment to a new colleague? Or worse — embarrass myself in front of the new boss? Get all set for having a fabulous first day at a new job with our guide. 

How to Prepare for Your First Day at a New Job

As they say: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. To have a great first day you should: 

1. Prepare paperwork, outfit, lunch, and other personal items. 
2. Plan your route and confirm start time and access instructions 
3. Make a list of questions to ask about the company 
4. Be ready to learn and interact a lot. 

Below are our best tips for an amazing first day at a new job: 

Have a Structured Evening Before 

Figuring out what you’ll need to bring the night before greatly reduces the stress in the morning. You also get a couple of extra minutes to sleep in, which is great for your productivity. People who run on five or six hours of sleep are 19% less productive than those who snooze for 7 hours or more. 

Lay out your outfit the day before too. If you’ve been given a uniform, make sure it’s clean and well-pressed. If the dress code is relaxed, prep a business casual first day at a new job outfit. 

Plan Your Commute 

Arriving late on your first day at work is a big no-no. Check how you’ll travel the night before. If you’re going by public transport, plan for possible delays. If you’re going by car, mind the traffic and look up for a parking spot nearby. Even if the company offers parking, it may be gated, so it’s best that you have a backup plan. 

Aim to arrive 10-15 mins in advance as this will give you some extra time to calm your nerves and give yourself a quick pep talk. You should come well-prepared mentally too! 

Organize Your Notes 

The first day will be overwhelming as you’ll have to soak in a lot of new info during orientation. Give yourself a head start by reviewing the details about your role and responsibilities and general information about the company: its mission, values, and key products/services. 

You should also note the names of the key people you already know: Your HR contact, your new manager/supervisor, the company’s CEO, and perhaps a few more peeps you’ve had interaction with during the recruitment cycle. The last thing you’d want is to mispronounce a colleague’s name on the first day or struggle to explain to the receptionists who should be called to pick you up. 

Learn Some New Coping Strategies 

Your nerves can get the better of you during your first day. Don’t let that happen by learning to take better control of your emotions. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a neuroscientist, and professor at Northeastern University, recommends one effective technique: 

We always think about control as changing what we’re doing at the moment. But actually it’s more important what you do before the heated moment. You need to build that flexibility into your brain so that your brain very automatically has a bunch of choices.

To better cope in high-stress situations, practice your act in conditions that mimic the actual environment. Doing so can help you manage stress and enhance performance in real-life settings. For example, practice giving your elevator pitch to your family (while they act bored or distracted) before using it with new coworkers. Or practice introducing yourself to new people in a nearby noisy coffee shop. 

Listen and Observe More Than You Talk 

You will meet many new people on your first day at a new job — and you’ll want to make friends. So you may be prone to chatting about yourself and engaging with as many people as possible to make a nice first impression. 

But a better strategy is to concentrate more on listening during your first days. Michael Watkins, professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD Business School recommends that you focus on understanding the corporate culture first because failure to do so can lead to major faux pas. 

Getting a sense of your new company’s unique political currents will enable you to fit into the group better. In particular, pay attention to how people prefer to communicate and collaborate. Is it mostly solo work and group chats or in-person brainstorming sessions? What’s the degree of formality? Do people use titles? Use your observations to adapt your behavior. 

Checklist for a First Day at a New Job

Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you be prepared and ready to impress on your first day!

The Day Before

• Double-check your start date and time.
• Plan your commute to the location 
• Pack all the requested paperwork (ID, tax forms, etc) 
• Lay out clean, professional attire for the day 
• Pack your lunch and water 

On Your First Day

• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to avoid stress 
• Greet and introduce yourself to everyone you meet
• Take notes during orientation and onboarding meetings 
• Review company documents (employee handbook, code of conduct) 
• Pay attention to workplace culture and expectations
• Ask your supervisors and colleagues questions 
• Learn about team communication preferences 
• Collect your work hardware (e.g., laptop, tablet, etc) 
• Set up your workplace: organize everything for efficiency 

End of Your First Day 

• Review your notes and put down follow-up questions
• Organize your tasks for the next days 
• Set your goals for the first week 
• Send introduction messages to colleagues 
• Keep a positive attitude as you navigate the new workplace